Electrode holder for arc furnaces



- Jun2.5, 5 WAGNER 3,390,220

ELECTRODE HQLDER FOR ARC FURNACES Filed July 10. 1 967 my- I coo/an! I u|| I o I v o I g 2Y1 .0 U

Inventor:

I AlPr-ed Washer- I J fltfornfyj United States Patent 3,390,220 ELECTRODE HOLDER FOR ARC FURNACES Alfred Wagner, Essen-Dellwig, Germany, assignor to Beteiligungsund Patentverwaltungsgesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Essen, Germany Filed July 10, 1967, Ser. No. 652,156 Claims priority, application Germany, July 26, 1966,

8 Claims. (51. 13-15 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrode holder and contact member for holding a generally cylindrical electrode and for applying current to the electrode, including a plurality of jaw members arranged .in at least two groups with three jaw members in each group, the jaw members of each group being positioned to receive a generally cylindrical electrode, the plane defined by the three jaw members of each group being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electrode, the groups of jaw members being spaced from each other along the axis of the electrode, and the individual jaw members of each group being circumferentially spaced with respect to each other and circumferentially staggered with respect to the jaw members of the adjacent groups.

Background 0 the invention Summary 0 the invention It is the object of the present invention to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art electrode holders for are furnaces and to provide an electrode holder which makes it possible to use electrodes with surfaces which do not have to be held to such close tolerances.

The present invention relates to an electrode holder for an arc furnace, which holder serves to support the electrode and also acts as a contact member for the transmission of current from the high-amperage current line to the electrode.

The invention includes at least six jaw members each having a relatively small surface area and arranged in two groups with three members in each group, the jaw members of each group being positioned to define a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electrode, the groups of jaw members being spaced from each other along the axis of the electrode, and the individual jaw members being circumferentially spaced with respect to each other. In accordance with this invention, it has been found that it is not the size of the contact areas but the number of contact points which is decisive for good current transmission between the high-amperage current line and the electrode, and this invention accordingly employs six small jaws instead of the previously used two or three large jaws.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of one illustrative electrode holder of this invention.

3,390,220 Patented June 25, 1968 ice FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 22 in FIGURE 1.

Description 0] the preferred embodiment An electrode 1 of an arc furnace (not shown) is firmly clamped by means of jaws 2, 3 and 4 in an upper plane and by means of jaws 5, 6 and 7 in a lower plane. The jaws 2 and 3 of the upper plane are circumferentially staggered by with respect to the jaws 5 and 6 of the lower plane and the third jaw each, 4 or 7, respectively, is disposed on the vertical symmetrical plane of jaws 2, 3 or 5, 6, respectively. The jaws 2 to 7 are movably disposed in a housing 8 surrounding them or in a clamp'ng device 10 so that they can be adjusted to conform to the electrode surface. It is advisable to have the supports of the jaws 2 to 7 constructed as ball sockets to accommodate irregularities in the electrode surface.

laws 4, 5 and 6, for example, serve to transmit current from a high-amperage current line 9 to the electrode 1 whereas the removable jaws 2, 3 and 7, which are connected via the clamping device 10 with a holding and loosening device (not shown), serve to transmit the clamping pressure to electrode 1.

It is possible, however, to use jaws 2, 3 and 7 advantageously for the transmission of current in addition to jaws 4, 5 and 6 by connecting the high-amperage current line 9 thereto.

The electrode holder of this invention provides a threepoint connection in two planes which are perpendicular to the electrode axis and in which the jaws are disposed in two groups of three. Furthermore, jaws 2, 3 and 7 or 4, 5 and 6, also realize statically determined three-point connections in two planes parallel to the electrode axis.

To release the clamping pressure on electrode 1, the three jaws 2, 3 and 7 connected to the clamping device 10 can be removed from electrode 1.

Canals 11 are provided in the jaws 4, 5 and 6 which are connected with pipes 12. Coolant can be flowed through said pipes and said canals so that the jaws 4, 5 and 6 are cooled. A pump, which serves to a positive circulation of the coolant, can be provided.

The electrode holder of this invention has the particular advantage that a statically determined three-point connection of the electrodes, a uniform pressure of the individual jaws on the electrode and thus a fault-less contact between the jaws and the electrode is produced.

The electrode holder of this invention thus makes possible the use of baked electrodes of low manufacturing accuracy whose cylindrical surface has not been turned, thereby appreciably lowering the cost of arc furnace electrodes without degrading their performance.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electrode holder and contact member for holding a generally cylindrical electrode and for applying current thereto, comprising a plurality of jaw members arranged in at least two groups with three jaw members in each group, the jaw members of each group being positioned to receive such a generally cylindrical electrode, the plane defined by the three jaw members of each group be ng substantially perpendicular to the axis of such a generally cylindrical electrode, and said groups of jaw members being spaced from each other along the axis of such a generally cylindrical electrode.

2. An electrode holder as defined in claim 1 in which the individual jaw members of each group are circumr 3 ferentially spaced with respect to each other and circumferentially staggered with respect to the jaw members of the adjacent groups.

3. An electrode holder as defined in claim 1 comprising two groups of three jaw members each, the individual jaw members of each group being circumferentially spaced with respect to each other and being circumferentially staggered by 180 with respect to the jaw members of the other group.

4. An electrode holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said jaw members are movably disposed in ball sockets.

5. An electrode holder as defined in claim 1 wherein at least three of said jaw members are constructed to serve as electrical contacts for the transmission of current from a high-amperage current source to such electrode.

6. An electrode holder as defined in claim 1 and further comprising means for cooling said jaws.

7. An electrode holder as defined in claim 1 wherein at least three of said jaw members are connected to a movable clamping device for applying pressure to and releasing pressure from such electrode.

8. An electrode holder as defined in claim 1 wherein adjacent jaw members of each group are spaced apart less than 180.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,702,359 2/1929 Molmark 1316 XR 2,903,494 9/1959 M'eflert 1314 3,189,673 6/1-965 Killin et al. 13-14 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. H. B. GILSON, Assistant Examiner. 

